By Amanda Gilmore

Recently widowed Jessica (Jules Willcox) begins a journey back to her hometown when a cold-blooded killer begins hunting her down.

Alone works thanks to Director John Hyams building ample amounts of tension in each scene through staging and sound, along with Wilcox’s captivating performance as a woman fighting to survive. However, for those looking for a twist or something new being brought to a popular genre they won’t find it here. As the story progresses it becomes predictable and at moments the 97-minute runtime drags a little. Yet, it’s Wilcox’s hungry performance at the ever-persistent Jessica that holds the audience throughout.

Alone screens live online at Fantasia Fest on Thu. Aug. 27 at 7 PM.

By Amanda Gilmore

While feeling like a third-wheel on a weekend getaway with friend Emily (Lauren Beatty) and Emily’s boyfriend (Aris Tyros), Rowan (Lee Marshall) begins having horrifying visions during the night of Emily. However, Rowan can’t tell if these visions are fact or fiction.

First-time Feature Writer-Director Amelia Moses has created a gripping isolation Horror film. The remote settings, the indoor fire-lit cabin and outdoor snowy landscape are beautifully shot. Both enhancing the isolation theme and encapsulating the otherness Rowan feels. Early on, Moses blurs lines of doubt and certainty upon Rowan’s hazy nightmarish visions. Skillfully evoking audiences to question themselves as Rowan does. The film is embedded by Marshall’s self-contained, subtle performance that’s somehow both quiet and loud.

Bleed With Me screens live online at Fantasia Fest on Wed. Aug. 26 at 7:10 PM and Tue. Sept. 1 at 3 PM.

By Amanda Gilmore

Staff at a clothing store are preparing overnight for Monday Madness and the launch of their newest jeans. They soon learn those pants are alive, and their out for blood.

This Film gives a new meaning to the phrase, “Those are some killer jeans.” Director-Writer Elza Kephart and Co-Writer Patricia Gomez Zlatar have made a hilarious, gory comedy-horror with important social commentary. Early, we are thrust into the competitive retail clothing world filled with cutthroat characters, and a couple of endearing ones. These believable varied characters are what keep us wanting more hysterical, bloody murders while rooting for a survivor. However, Kephart and Zlatar have more on their minds then entertainment. They expose the villainous corporate agendas of clothing companies, such as child labour, and the culpable blind-eye of consumers and employees. What results is the manifestation of a hero in the form of jeans attempting to take down the establishment. The visual effects are stellar and the entire Cast is captivating, consisting of Romane Denis, Sehar Bhojani, Brett Donahue and more.

Slaxx screens live twice online at Fantasia Fest on Sun. Aug. 23 at 7 PM.

By Amanda Gilmore

Based on the Video Game of the same name, Detention is set in 1962 during Taiwan’s White Terror period. It follows Fang (Gingle Wang) and Wei (Tseng Chin-hua) who have been trapped alone at midnight in their high school.

First-time Feature Writer-Director John Hsu has made a striking Fantasy-Horror genre film. As with the Video Game, the real-world horror those experienced during the White Terror period perfectly moulds within fantastical elements of the narrative. Weaved into this fantasy realm is a powerful lesson of the importance of pain and the significance of those who suffer to live to tell the story. Hsu manages to keep this lesson prominent no matter how magical the stunning Visual Effects become. His effects also never take away from the impressive grounded performances from Chin-Hua and Wang. For any fan of Pan’s Labyrinth, Detention is for you.

Detention screens live online at Fantasia Fest on Mon. Aug. 24 at 7 PM.

By Amanda Gilmore

On a snowy night in a small Canadian town Steve (RJ Mitte) walks into a blue-collar bar owned by Paul (Peter Outerbridge). It’s clear the two know each other but why has Steve returned and what does he want?

The Oak Room is a slow-burn Thriller that has characters using the art of storytelling to unwind its central mystery. From beginning to end, Steve and Paul tell two different stories. However, Steve’s will slowly reveal his motive for returning home. Writer Peter Genoway has written captivating stories within his narrative. Yet, this unique and brave decision causes long drawn out scenes heavy on dialogue rather than action. That being said, Mitte and Outerbridge do bring much entertainment to their often-sedentary roles. There’s also a congenial supporting performance from Ari Millen as a character within Steve’s story.

The Oak Room will screen live online at Fantasia Fest on Mon. Aug. 24 at 9:45 PM and Mon. Aug. 31 at 11:30 PM.

By Amanda Gilmore

This Documentary follows David Arquette’s come back to wrestling after winning the World Championship title 18 years prior.

You Cannot Kill David Arquette is an outrageously-funny Documentary that perfectly compliments its zany subject. Directors David Darg and Price James have loaded many eccentric moments, such as wizard-caped horseback riding, spray tanning, magic and more, while never taking the focus off the heartfelt redemption story. Darg and James control the narrative to shift the audience’s opinion from beginning to end. As we travel with Arquette through his highs and lows, it becomes impossible not to root for him; turning audiences from sceptics to supporters. It doesn’t matter if you like or dislike wrestling and/or Arquette, because it’s a movie about an underdog aspiring for acceptance in the arena he loves. That’s what makes this a Documentary one not to be missed.

You Cannot Kill David Arquette screens live online at Fantasia Fest on Mon. Aug. 24 at 7:30 PM.

Master of Horror John Carpenter was honoured at Fantasia Fest 2020 this year and not only did he accept a Lifetime Achievement Award (the Cheval Noir), he also gifted fans with a Master Class. The genius behind classics like Halloween, The Thing, Big Trouble in Little China, Christine, The Fog, Escape from New York and Starman spoke today, reflecting on his celebrated career.

Here are some highlights:

ON MONTREAL

“Montreal is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever been in.”. Carpenter’s first Film to premiere at Fantasia Fest was 1998’s Vampires.

ADVICE TO HIS YOUNGER SELF

“The advice I would give is to relax. It’s a long road

ON COLLABORATING WITH KURT RUSSELL

“There are always projects I want to work with Kurt [Russell] on. … He makes a great Santa Claus.”.

ON BEING INVOLVED IN 2018’s HALLOWEEN

“Jason Blum came and talked to me and he said, ‘Well, they are going to make this Movie whether you’re involved or not. Why don’t you come on board and stop judging these movies from a distance and come in and put your input on it?’.   “I don’t know if I made it better. But I did put in my two cents.”.

ON UPCOMING “HALLOWEEN KILLS”

“It is the quintessential Horror film. It is so intense. And oh my god! It even stuns me how incredible it is. David [Gordon Green] just did a great job. I can’t wait to have you see it.”. Like 2018’s Halloween, Carpenter also scores this upcoming installment in the Franchise, coming October 2021.

More on this and other Fantasia Fest events here. The Festival runs digitally through September 2, 2020.

Check back here daily for Amanda Gilmore‘s reviews of the Festival’s hottest titles.

(Photo credit: Fantasia Fest)

By Amanda Gilmore

Undertaker Bernardo (Luís Machín) wife Estella (Celeste Gerez) and stepdaughter Irina (Camila Vaccarini) live disconcertedly amongst spirits in their home, but when a demon takes up residence, they have to fight to stay alive.

Writer-Director Mauro Iván Ojeda takes us early into the family’s distressing life. He gives us mystery and trepidation through steady camerawork and the use of shadows. Yet, he doesn’t root his ghost story in the tropes we have become accustomed to. Instead, he creates a fragmented familial portrait of members past and present. If spirits are always around us, shouldn’t we be sceptical of those who hurt us before? He ends the Film with a unique bittersweet moment, that may not work for all but stays true to the family’s story. The entire cast is pitch-perfect most notably Vaccarini who commands the screen.

The Undertaker’s Home screens live online at Fantasia Fest on Fri. Aug. 21 at 7:30 PM and Wed. Aug. 26 11:30 PM.

By Amanda Gilmore

After a chance encounter Chen Po-ching (Austin Lin) and Chen Ching (Nikki Hsieh), who both have OCD, begin a romantic relationship.

I WeirDo is a quirky Rom-Com with beautiful Art Direction and delightful performances. Writer-Director Liao Ming-yi makes this eccentric romance film so much more with a mid-film twist. Midway through, one-character experiences a miracle which shifts the film into dramatic territory. Therefore, creating a Film that examines the dark-side of co-dependency within relationships, and questioning love’s impermanence. Ming-yi has also shot the film on the vertical frame of an iPhone camera. This inventive decision heightens the inner psyche of the delightful characters and perfectly encapsulates the often-claustrophobic feeling of those inflicted with OCD.

I Weirdo will screen live online at Fantasia Fest on Sat. Aug. 22 at 7 PM

By Amanda Gilmore

While interviewing for a job at Raven’s End Mortuary, Sam (Caitlin Custer) asks mortician Montgomery (Clancy Brown) to tell her his scariest stories. What Sam and the audience get in return is a delightful concoction of supernatural, comedic, and grim short stories that all weave into the central narrative.

Ryan Spindell’s The Mortuary Collection gives us Goosebumps vibes but with macabre adult themes and lessons. “No evil deed goes unpunished,” is the motif throughout Montgomery’s stories and the linear narrative. Yet, Spindell masters the art of lacing humour in the cruellest aspects of characters and darkest moments of scenes. What we’re left with is an entertaining nostalgic ride through the ’50s-’80s with equal parts fright and delight. More importantly, Spindell makes us think, long after the credits roll, about the ripples effects our actions have. Brown is aces as the mysterious Montgomery and Custer gives a captivating performance as the suspicious Sam. The collection of stories are cast perfectly with memorable performances from Jacob Elordi, Ema Horvath, Barak Hardley, Christine Kilmer, and more.

The Mortuary Collection will be available on-demand for Fantasia Fest Aug 20 – Sept 2.